Rugby League World Cup Action Picked Up by Streaming Platform FITE

Posted on: October 6, 2022, 07:49h. 

Last updated on: October 6, 2022, 10:41h.

Erik Gibbs Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Gaming Business, Global Gaming.

The Rugby League World Cup (RLWC) kicks off later this month, and fans in the US and Canada will be able to follow all the action. While PPV options on cable and satellite were already available, streaming service Fite (stylized FITE) will carry the games in North America as well.

Rugby League World Cup trophy
The Rugby League World Cup trophy sits on display in 2021 before the event was postponed by COVID-19. It’s coming back this month, and streaming service FITE has been able to secure broadcasting rights. (Image: Sky Sports)

Fite, owned by TikTok rival TrillerVerz, has been around for the past decade. It has mostly concentrated on combat sports — hence, the name. It became the go-to free and paid streaming service for fans of MMA, professional wrestling, martial arts, and more.

That limited the company’s potential customer base, so it began adding new content. The RLWC is one of its biggest coups, with Fite also providing coverage in Africa, parts of Europe, Japan, and Latin America.

Back to Business

This may be the RLWC 2022, but it actually serves as the 2021 version. Last year’s event never happened because of COVID-19, but it’s returning now.

The series begins on October 15 and run through November 19, with all of the action taking place at various stadiums in England. The men’s tournament includes 16 teams, divided into four groups. The women’s tournament includes two groups of four teams each.

There is also a wheelchair competition, with the same split as the women’s tournament. This is the first time that all of the competitions will run simultaneously.

Fite, which once convinced former President Donald Trump to provide commentary on a boxing match, will have coverage of some of the men’s events on its FITE+ subscription service in North America. According to a company announcement, it will offer complete coverage of the women’s and wheelchair competitions.

Around six million sports fans across the globe belong to Fite’s subscription service. They will have immediate access to the games, but other options are available. Fite will provide certain coverage via PPV options for those who don’t want to subscribe to Fite+.

Australia Looks to Retain Crown

The October 15 pool stage starts with a match between England and Samoa, two teams with strong players and a thirst for victory. They’ll meet at St James’ Park in what’s expected to be a hotly contested match.

Next up will be Australia, which hopes to defend its title. The team from Down Under won the last two RLWC events in 2013 and 2017, and is ready to do it again. Australia meets Fiji at KCOM Stadium to see if they have what it takes. William Hill gives them odds of -227 to take the championship.

After Australia, which has 11 RLWC titles, New Zealand (+333) is also a strong contender for the championship. England (+900), with three titles and a new head coach in three-time Super League Grand Finals winner Shaun Wane, is the third-place favorite to win. Tonga finds itself on the list as well, getting 1000.